Women to Watch: Leigh Zarda Carr

A nurse turned CBD advocate, Leigh Carr and her husband founded Hari Om Hemp in 2018. Carr has several shops in the Kansas City area and an active online presence, but ultimately hopes to help usher in change at the educational level for health care professionals.

Who are you and what do you do?

Hi everyone! My name is Leigh Zarda Carr and I am the CEO and Co-founder of Hari Om Hemp. I wear many hats in the cannabis industry from making our all natural and organic products, holding educational seminars on the endocannabinoid system, working at Brookside Holistic Solutions a few days a week for those needing guidance, as well as education on the difference between hemp and marijuana, as well as you can find me at a number of different fundraisers supporting the community around us and always giving back to a community that we love so much.

What is your backstory?

My background is in Nursing and I hold my BSN from Research College of Nursing and Rockhurst University. I am currently working towards my CNNC nursing certification as well. My whole life, I knew I was here to help others, never did I think that I would have the pleasure to get to help so many with a PLANT not a PILL. I have found my calling and am so lucky that I get to wake up every day and spread the knowledge and benefits of cannabis and cannabinoids. Having suffered my entire adult life from chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, depression, I found relief from Hemp Oil that no other medication was ever able to do. Having found that relief in Hemp Oil after years and years of PT, steroid injections, and daily sciatica pain, I knew I had to let others know that there are alternative therapies out there that do and can work outside of modern medicine. You see, we are not taught in nursing school what you would think and that is another reason why I knew I had to get in the industry to help educate from a medical perspective.

What made you fall in love with cannabis?

I fell in love with cannabis at a young age in college. While it was illegal, it was the only thing that I could use to function and study – nothing that Adderall could ever do for me. I spent many years hiding this from people because of the stigma and it being illegal. Now in this day and age, with the acceptance of medical cannabis across the country, I feel it is my duty to educate on the misconception of this powerful plant and why consuming this plant can help restore our endocannabinoid system to homeostasis. The endocannabinoid system is not taught in nursing school and this is a system I have dedicated hours and hours of research over the last 18 months.

Why do you want to work in Missouri’s cannabis industry?

Having found relief myself from Full Spectrum Hemp oil that no other medication could ever do for me I knew with my nursing background that I had to help educate where education is needed. With my Bachelors in Science of Nursing, I understand the science behind why cannabinoids work within our endocannabinoid system and I wanted to be able to use my science background to educate others on the benefits of this amazing plant that has had a stigma on it for too long. The more I learn, the more I teach myself that this plant can do so much for so many.

What do you think makes you and your company stand out, can you share your story?​ ​

Hari Om Hemp was founded on the belief in alternative and holistic therapies. While we strive to educate on the benefits of CBD, we are not just any other CBD company. At Hari Om Hemp our goal is to promote better overall health and wellness as a whole, mind, body, and spirit using an all natural and holistic approach. We want to help people on their journey to health and wellness as a whole. Hari Om Hemp started in the heartland of the midwest in the great city of Kansas City. Hari Om Hemp began as an idea from husband and wife, Dustin and Leigh Carr, when they both noticed the many benefits that Leigh saw from CBD herself. L​eigh, who holds a bachelor’s in Science of Nursing was sick and tired of being sick and tired. Bound to the drive-through pharmacy line for refill after refill for little to no relief was not the life Leigh wanted to live anymore. That is when she started to do research on alternative and holistic therapies. All her research led her to CBD. L​eigh has suffered from numerous different ailments ranging from mental health, addiction, and chronic pain – all of which can benefit from CBD. We pride ourselves with our direct relations with the farmers in Oregon who grow the hemp we use in our Full Spectrum Hemp Oil. Having these direct relations we know exactly where our hemp is sourced from, how it is extracted, and genetics will be the same each and every time. At any given time we have direct access to the farm and the farmers. We third party test all of our products in an outside testing facility to ensure every product has in it what we say is in it. In an industry with companies popping up every day and labeling the same white label product, we are happy to say that we were built from the bottom up and are a one of a kind unique business led by the brains of a Nurse.

What is the most challenging thing in the industry?

Payment Processing. We have now been shut down online 5 times and are currently in the midst of trying to find our 6th payment processor. Trying to provide access to safe medicine has become the hardest part. I can only hope and pray soon this is all a thing of the past and we do not have to worry about waking up to another email saying we can no longer accept CBD sales.

What motivates you?

My family and our community. Without the love and support from both none of what we do would be possible. The community has welcomed us with open arms and for that we could not be more thankful.. Our goal is to always give back to the community that has been so good to us!

My son is my overall driving force and my reason why I work as hard as I do. My son has special needs and he takes hemp oil everyday as well and just another reason why I love this plant so much and want to help educate and break the stigma upon Cannabis consumption. I truly believe that this plant has so much to offer for so many!

When did you first get involved?

Hari Om Hemp was founded in April of 2018 and within that last year the growth and direction we have taken is something we never thought we would get to so quickly. But with the drive and ambition that we have to truly help others. There are no days off and we keep pushing to be at the front of Education and providing the highest quality Hemp products on the market.

Where do you see yourself within the industry in a few years?

At the forefront of Cannabis Nursing Education in the Midwest. I want every Nursing School to be teaching about the Endocannabinoid system and the benefits of consuming cannabinoids. It is a disservice to our patients to NOT be educating the future nurses about such a very important system that is a regulatory system!

What are your and your company’s roles in the cannabis industry?

To provide the highest quality hemp products in the midwest and to continue to educate those who need educating and to break the stigma on Cannabis. Hari Om.

What is your favorite thing about the cannabis community?

The connections that I am making with like-minded individuals. Like I said earlier, I used to hide my use of cannabis because of the legalities and stigma surrounding it and now I can express openly the love and benefits of it too so many! Plants over Pills, Health over Wealth!